Friday preview: US data, ECB minutes in focus

Investors' focus at the end of the week will be on a deluge of first-tier economic data out of the US.

Chief among those will be a report on retail sales for April and a preliminary reading on US consumer confidence.

Gauges for inflation expectations contained in the latter will be of particular interest given financial markets' heightened concern of late on that front.

Also due out are readings for monthly industrial production, business inventories and import prices.

Across the Channel meanwhile, at 1130 BST the European Central Bank will publish the minutes of its most recent rate-setting meeting.

Friday 14 May

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

AB Dynamics, Seneca Growth Capital Vct B, Smiths Group, Softcat

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income, Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc., Tufton Oceanic Assets Limited NPV

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Business Inventories (US) (15:00)

Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30)

Industrial Production (US) (14:15)

Retail Sales (US) (13:30)

U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (15:00)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

John Laing Group , Jupiter Fund Management

AGMS

Derwent London, DigitalBox, JPMorgan American Inv Trust, Menzies(John), Phoenix Group Holdings , Pittards, Sabre Insurance Group, Spectris, St James's Place, Tasty, Triple Point Social Housing Reit, Wishbone Gold (DI)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Alpha Fx Group , Antofagasta, Aviva, Drax Group, EMIS Group, Hunting, Ibstock , IMI, John Laing Group , JPMorgan US Smaller Co. Inv Tst, Jupiter Fund Management , Kerry Group 'A' Shares (CDI), Quixant, Schroder Asian Total Return Investment Company , Taylor Wimpey, Ultra Electronics Holdings, Vitec Group

Q1

Societatea Energetica Electrica SA GDR (Reg S), Societatea Nationala De Gaze Naturale Romgaz S.A. GDR (Reg S)